[W2CRA] Amateur Radio Brings Young People Together on Kids Day

[Walter O'Brien, W2WJO]

News Release

Allen Pitts, W1AGP
Media and Public Relations Manager
(860) 594-0328
apitts at arrl.org

 
Amateur Radio Brings Young People Together on Kids Day

-- 
CHERRYVILLE HAMFEST 2005
March, 12, 2005 at North Hunterdon High School
Route 31 South, just south of I-78 in Clinton, NJ


Newington, Conn., December 29, 2004 -- On January 2, 2005, hundreds of young
people throughout the country will be chatting with other kids, not via the
Internet, but over the airwaves using Amateur Radio (or "ham radio")
technology during Kid's Day.   Now in it's eleventh year, Kid's Day is
sponsored by ARRL -- the national association for Amateur Radio.   Kids will
even be operating at the W1AW station at the national headquarters of the
ARRL itself.

Many of today's scientists, radio engineers, astronauts and Amateur Radio
enthusiasts got involved with the technology in their youth, sometimes
through a relative or a neighbor in town. During the event, licensed Amateur
Radio operators will encourage their children, young people from the
neighborhood or even a local scout troop to experience the enjoyment of ham
radio firsthand.   

³Getting kids on the air is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.²
says Mark Spencer, WA8SME, of the ARRL¹s Field and Educational Services.
According to Spencer, ³To make it a productive experience we try to keep it
simple.  Contacting rare foreign locations is fun, but local, quality
contacts often work better and in most cases make a more lasting
impression.² 
 
Today there are nearly 680,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States
and more than 2.5 million worldwide. Information on how to become involved
in Amateur Radio is available from ARRL--the national association for
Amateur Radio, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111 or by calling
1-800-32-NEW HAM. Visit ARRL on the Web at www.arrl.org  .

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